Dirigible headlight for automobiles.



A. wmm, mmewgs umusmfron AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATIDN nun an. i

&. -n h Rm WW LS MW d/m. M i m a A. WHITE. D' lGlBLE HEADLIGHT FOR AUTOMOBIWS. I APPLICATION HLED MAR. 13. m7. 1

1,258,842.. Pate tsd Mam12. 1911 7 2 SHLEI'S-8HEET 2- desired direction.

section on ALLEN wnrrn, or OLYMPIA, wnsnnveroiv.

DIBIGIBLE HEADLIGHT FOB. AUTOMOBILES To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLEN Wnrrn, a citipia, in the countyof Thurston and State of Washington, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Dirigible Headlights for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification. p

My invention relates to improvements in dirigible .headlights for automobiles, and the object of my lamps 'and mechanism which shall be adapted to b; operativelyassociated with an automobile nd its steering mechanism n such manner that two of said lamps shall be adjustably adapted (simultaneously or dissimultaneously as may be required) to move rotatively to change rays of light in response tochanges 1n the direction towardwhich be moving and that one of said lamps shallbe adapted to be independently actuated manually to direct rays of light toward any ,I accomplish this object by devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein-- Y Figure lds a fragmentary plan view of an automobile with which are associated devices embodying my. invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in same;

Fig. sections of parts line 3, 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an e larged view in vertical section of parts of the same;

3 is an enlarged view in horizontal of the vsame on broken Fig. 5 is an enlarged view. in vertical sec-- tion ofother parts of the same;

Fig. '6 is an enlarged view in horizontal section on broken line 6, 6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view in horizontal broken line 7, 7 of. Fig. 4 of one detail of my invention;

F ig. 8 is an enlarged section on broken line 8, 8 of Fig. showing Fig. horizontal section on broken line '9, ing another.,detail of the 'same.

Referring which like reference numerals parts, Figs. 1- and 2 represent the forward half portion of an automobile including the front axle 10, radiator 11, engine housing 12,

9 is an enlarged view in Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed March 13, 1917. Serial No; 154,627.

'the'chassis, lamps 1 6, 17 and"l8 20, respectively,

invention is to provide the direction of their v said automobile may caused to act simultaneously 1 bracket 30 having a verticallyf side elevation of the view in horizontal 9 of Fig. 5, 'showto the drawings throughout, indicate likefl raee teriiuan' a, ieis.

the steering wheel 13, side rails 14 sitely disposed running boards, which are indicated in. outline by dotted lines. 19.and

in Figs 1 and 2, a fragment of the running board 19 being-shown by full lines in Fig. 3. Operatively associated with the steering wheel 13, in ,a well known manner-- not shown, is a shaft 22, which projects out wardly through the side rail l l of the chassis, and rigidly secured to the outwardly projected end portion of said-"shaft 22 1s a downwardly extending arm i The lower end po rtion'of' the arm is articulated with the rearward end portion of a connecting rod 24: whose forward end isarticulated to an arm 25that is integral with a member of the steering knuckle of one end portion of the front axle 10 whoseother ,end portion is provided with a" similar steering knuckle having an arm' 26 which is" opera tively connected with the necting rod 27 whereby, manner, the front wheel n sh l no 28 ar'id 29 may be to turn toward adesired direction. v

Fastene'd to the outer side surface f; front end portion :of the side rail lt is a I v disposed sleeve 31 integral therewith, which sleeve 31 is provided with two integrallu'gs'32 that extend in parallellines rearwardlygth'erefriom.

Registering its top end downwardly to a plane nearthe bottomedges of said lugs 32, as indicatedin Figsg leand ti.

Fixed within the sleeve 31 is a tubular socket 35, within whose bottom end is a ,shaft bearing. 36; within which is rotatably disposed a shaft 3'? which extends 'upwardly therefrom to a point adjacent to the plane TiO f the top end surface of the sleve' 31,-the

upper end portion-{of said shaft 37 being of square cross-section and projected lthrough a square hole 38 that/is concentrically idisposed to extend through the upper end portion of a plunger "39" which isprovided with a downwardly xteiidedannular flange 40, which p'lringer' 39" is'fthus adaptedtoj make rotative movements inresponse to rat-ave movements oftheshaft' 37.

Witliin the socket 35; the shaft {37 [is 'provi'dedWith an integral collar 41' which ests arm by a" con-- and of theoppo-i with the space between'the lugs. 32 the sleeve-31. is .providedgwith a slot 34. extending from upon theshaft bearing 36, and surrounding said shaft 37 is a helical compressionspring 42 which extends upwardly from the top surface'of the collar 31 to the under surface of the plunger 39 thereby'normally to press said plunger 39 against a removable collar 43 that is fastened on the upper end of the shaft 37.

The rearward portion of the annular I flange 40, of the plunger 39, is provided w1th an opening 44 formed by cutting away a segmental portion of said flange 40 to admit into. said opening an arm 45 whichis integral with a lever 46 that is pivotally mounted between the lugs 32 by means of a pivot 47 which extends through said lugs 32 and through said lever 46, as shOWn more clearly in Fig. 6. v

The arm 45 is adapted to engage with the surface of the lower edge of said opening 44 whereby a downward movement of said arm 45 will cause the plunger 39 to be forced downwardly against the pressure of the spring 42. I v

The plunger 39 is provided with oppositely disposed lugs 49 which project upwardly from its top surface to project into n slots, like the slot 50, that are formed in the bottom end of a lamp support 51 that is rotatably disposed in the upper portion of the socket 35.

The lamp support 51, within the socket 35, is provided with a groove 52, within which projects the rounded end of a screw 53 which is screwed tllrough the upper end portion of the cylindrical wall of the socket 35, as indicated in Fig. 4.

At a point adjacent to the upper end of the sleeve 31 the rearward side of the wall of the socket '35 is provided with a slotted opening 54, and opposite said opening 54 the lower end of the lamp support 51 is also provided with a slot whereby .a curved arm 55, thatis integral ..with the lever 46, may

rotative movements to the lamp support 51.

The lever '46 is provided with another integral arm 56 which extendsdownwardly to make a pivotal connection-with one end of a GOIlnGCtHlg rod 57 which extends rearwardly to connect w1th an arm 58 which is fastened on a shaft 59 thatis rotatively movable in a "hearing dfi' thatextends through the side rail.

. of the chassis, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3.

The shaft 59 projects out of the inner end of said bearing 60 and on said out-,

portion-of the controlling rod 62 is of the form of a handle 63 which may be grasped by the operator of the automobile at times desired to move rearwardly said controlling rod 62 to swing the lever 46 to cause the arm to disengage the lugs 49 from the slots and to cause the arm to lockthe lamp support 51 against rotative movements, and at other desired times to move said rod 62 forwardly and in an obvious manner to actuate the lever46 to unlock the lamp support 51 and permit the lugs 49 to enter the slots 50 whereby the lamp support 51 may be rotatively moved in response to a rotative movement of the shaft 37 The controlling rod 62 adjacent to its handle 63 is provided with a series of detent notches 64 that are adapted to engage with the edge of adetent ,plate 65 that is fixed on the instrument board 21, such engagement being insured by the pressure of a spring 66 which is disposed as shown in Fig. 3. i

The shaft 37 projects downwardly out of the bearing 36 and on its downwardly projecting end portion is fastened an arm 67 that projects inwardly beneath the side rail 14, and to such inwardly projecting end is articulated the forward end of a connecting rod 68 whose rearward end is articulated with an arm-69, by means of a ball joint,-

said'arm 69 being clamped to the arm 23 which is associated with the steering mechanism, whereby, in an obvious manner, the shaft 37 will be rotatively moved in response to a rotative movement of the steering wheel 13.

Fastened to the top surface of the running board 19, at a point in a vertical line near the plane of the wind shield 70, is a bracket 71, within which is fixed a tubular socket 72 whose lower end portion projects downwardly through the running board 19 and is provided with a shaft bearing 73.

The tubular socket 72 extends vertically upward from the braclni 71 to a point adj acent tothe horizontal plane of the top edge of the side door74 of the automobile and fixed toits top end portion is a bracket 75 that is provided-with two spa'cedlugs 76 and .-.--Z7.;that,extendrearwardly therefrom.

Pivot-ally mounted on said lugs 76 and 77 and disposed therebetween is a lever having three arms 78, 7 9 and 80, to the arm 80 of Yfslightly above the plane which is attached a handle 81, as shown in Figs. 5 and 8. I M

Secured to the inner side of the arm 80 is a friction spring 82 which engages with a sector 83 that is integraljwith therlug76 which friction spring 82 serves to detain the arm 80 of said lever in a different angular positions.

Extending through the rearward side of the tubular socket 7 2, ing with the space between the lugs 76 and 77, is a vertically slotted opening 84, through which may be projected a desired one of thearms 78 and 79h responseto a swinging movement of the handle 81.

Rotatably mounted inthe shaft 85 whose lower end projects downi wardly through and out of said bearing 7 3;

and said shaft 85 extends upwardly within section to adapt it slidably to fit a square hole 89 in er 90 which is rotatably and slidably disposed to fit within the tubular socket 72.

the bottom end of a hollow plun- Extending through the rearward portion of the annular wall of the plunger 90 is a segmentally formed opening 91 into which the arm 78 may: extend to cause the surface of the wall of the upper SldGOf said opening 3. to engage with and restupon the top sur- .ce of the end portion of said arm 7 8 where-' may bg raised against the,

by said plunger force of a helical compression sprlng 92 that extends between the bottom wall of the plunger 90 and the underside of the head 88 in response to a downward movement of the handle 81;

The top end of the plunger 90 is provided with two oppositely disposed lugs 93 which are adapted to project'intoa transverse slot formed in the bottom end ofa lamp holder 94 whose lower .end portion is rotatably mounted in the upper end" portiomof. the tiibularsocket 7 2 where it is confined with respect to verticalmovements by a screw 95 that projects through lar socket 72 into a groove 96 that extends around the periphery of the lamp holder 94, asfshown more clearly in Fig. 5. I

The bottom end portion of the lamp holder 4 94 is provided with a radial slot 97 into jected in response to which the end of the arm 79 may be prohandle 81- at the angle indicated by the desiredone of in a position registera to be. manually rotated in t e bearing is a 100 that projects provided with another the wall ofthe tubu a disposition of thedotted line 98, whereby the lamp holder 94 will be prevented from a rotative moveslots'in the lower end of said lamp holder 94. 1

Ifthe handle 81 be brought to the position of the dotted lines 99, shown in Fig. 5, then the arms 78 and 79 will be in positions that will'disengage the lugs 93 from the slots in the bottom end of. he lamp holder 94 and atthe same ,time permit said lam holder 94 tubular socket 72.

Fastened on the outwardly projecting bottom end portion of the shaft is an arm inwardly at right angles therefrom and to the inner end of said arm 100 is articulated the rearward end of a com necting rod 101 whose forward end is articuwith an arm 102 that is.

lated by a ball joint I clamped to the arm 23 of the steering mechanism whereby in response to a rotative movement of the steering wheel 13 the shaft 85 willbe rotatively moved, thus at required times to rotatively move the lamp holder 94 if the handle 81 be in the position shown'in full lines in Fig. 5. V

Hinged to the upper end of the lamp, holder94 is a lamp 16 that is adapted to swing in vertical planes. I

Thus, both of the lamps 16 and 17 may be actuated rotatively to move synchronously in horizontal planes in response to rotative movements of the steering wheel 13, or either of the two lamps 16 and-l7, as may be desired, may be caused independently and rotatively to move in a horizontal plane in response'to rotative movements of said steering wheel 13, and further the lamp 16 may be manually swung in a vertical plane or rotated in a-horizo'ntal planeindependently of said lamp 17 and either of said lamps 16 and 17 may be removed from the tubular lamp holders 7 2 and 35, respectively, a respective one of the screws 95 and 53. I have shown the'lamps 16 and 17 together with their associated mechanism as automobile, but it is manifest tllittdlkfldevices may be disposed on both sides of an automobile, or. only on, a desired one of the sides of said automobile.

Obviously, changes may be made in the forms, dimensions and arrangement, of

by removing parts of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof.

What I claim'is: 1. Dirigible light mechanism including a therein, a slidingclutch member positioned in the lower end of said socket and in detachable engagement with said lamp mount, the

tubular socket "a lamp mount rotatable 115 being disposed on the left hand .side 0? an in, a lamp carried by said mount, a sliding member positioned in the lower end of said socket, in detachable engagement with said lamp mount, the wall of said socket having a vertical slot therein, means extending through said slot to shift the sliding member out of engagement with said lamp mount, said means including a pivoted arm having a pair of fingers engaging respectively the lamp mount to hold the same stationary, and the sliding member to shift same, and means for rotating the sliding member.

3. Dirigible light mechanism including a tubular socket, a lamp mount rotatable therein, a lamp carried by said mount, a sliding member positioned in the lower end of said socket, in detachable engagement with said lamp mount, the wall of said socket having a vertical slot therein, means extending through said slot to shift the slidingmemher out of engagement withsaid lamp,

mount, means for rotating the sliding mem her, and steering mechanism operatively associated therewith.

4t. Dirigible light mechanism including a tubular socket, a lamp mount rotatable therein, a lamp carried by said mount, a sliding member positioned in the lower end-of said socket, in detachable engagement with said lamp mount, the wall of said socket having a vertical slot therein, means extending through said slot to shift the sliding memher out of engagement with said .lamp mount, said means including a pivoted arm having a pair of fingers engaging respectively the lamp mount to hold the same stationary, the sliding member to shift same, and means for rotating the sliding member, and steering mechanism operatively associated therewith.

5. Dirigible light mechanism including a tubular socket, a lamp mount rotatable therein, a shaft having a rectangular upper end journaled in the lower end of said socket, a tensioned plunger having a rectangiilar opening received on the upper end of said shaft, interlocking connections between said lamp mount and plunger, and means for disconnecting the lamp mount and plunger.

6. Dirigible light mechanism including a tubular socket, a lamp mount rotatable therein, a shaft having a rectangular upper end journaled in the lower end of said socket, a tensioned plunger having a rec tangular opening received on the upper end of said shaft, interlocking connections between said lamp mount and plunger, means for disconnecting the lamp mount and plunger, the said means carrying an arm adapted for engagement with said lamp mount to prevent rotary movement thereof.

I. Dirigible light mechanism including a tubular socket, a lamp mount rotatable therein, a shaft having a rectangular upper end journaled in the lower end of said socket, a tensioned plunger having a rec tangular opening received on the upper end of said shaft, interlocking connections betweensaid lamp mount and plunger, means for disconnecting the lamp mount and plunger, and steering mechanism associated with said shaft.

8. Dirigible light mechanism including a.

socket, a tensioned plunger having a rectangular opening rweived on the upper end of said shaft, interlocking connections between said lamp mount and plunger, means for disconnecting the lamp mount and plunger, the said meanscarrying an arm adapted for engagement with said lamp mount to prevent rotary movement thereof, and steering mechanism associated with said. shaft. i

9. Dirigible light mechanism including a vertical rotatable lamp mount, an alined vertical operating shaft therefor, a clutch for connecting said shaft and said mount, means to move said clutch to its position wherein said shaft and said mount are connected, and means to operate said clutch to disconnect said'shaft and said mount, one

ble either to move said clutch member to allow free manual rotation of said mount or to directly engage the mount to prevent rotation thereof.

' In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 2nd day of March, A. D.

ALLE N WHITE, 4 

